In continuous fuse



W. A. LEONARD.

CONTINUOUS FUSE. No, l- 84,Q%3 Patented Elov. 7, 1876.

m/i crlessea IF'IVBW'LDUC 61$m, flaw, T 9K I i i WILLIAM A. LEONARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CQNTlNUCUS FUSE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. ltfi lhqbfifl, dated November 7, 1376; application filed August 12, 1876.

To all who: it may concern:

Be it known that I, \V'ILLIAM A. LEONARD, of Boston, in the county of Suli'olk and State of lllassachusetts, have invented an Improved Continuous Fuse, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to a continuous fuse, to be used as a substitute for matches, for lighting lamps, wicks, gas, &c. The fuse is placed in an airtight case, in close proximity to the wick or lamp or gas to be lighted, and is made movable, so as to expose its end to the action of a finger, that, striking the match composition forming part of the fuse, ignites the fuse and the adjaccntwick, lamp, or gas.

The base of thisimproved fuse is composed of Xylonite, manufactured as described in certain United States latents, Nos. 91,377, 97,454, and 101,175, granted to Daniel bpi-ll. Such compound is rolled out into sheet form to a thickness of about one thirty-second of an inch, more or less, is cut up into long, nar. row, rectangular strips, and is then coated on one side with a. friction-match compound Thematch compound preferably used on this xylonitebase or strip is waterproof, and is made as follows, viz: Dissolve forty parts, by weight, of shellac, in t'orty parts, by weight, of

alcohol, ot' a strength notlcss than ninety-eight,

percent. volume; place this mixture in an air tight metallic vessel, together with twelve parts, by weight, of ordinary phosphorus, and heat it to a temperature of about 150 Fahreuheit; then agitate until the phosphorus and shellac are thoroughly mixed, or perfect emulsion takes place. Then add 'l'ourtcen parts, by weight, of amorphous phos -lhorus, thirtytwoparts of nitrate ot' potash linely powdered, and twelve parts of peroxide of lead, and mix all. thoroughly.

I do not desire to limit this invention to the use of the exact propl'n-tions as above stated for the match composition, but the proportions stated are considered the best.

If this composition is to be particularly fine, it may be ground in an ordinary paint-mill.

Instead of shellac, 1 may employ other Wellknown resinous gums, as gum-copal; and the shellac or gum, instead of being dissolved in alcohol, may be dissolved in any other known solvent, as, for instance, ammonia, or in allialine liquids.

Xylonite has many advantages for use as a fusebase, because of its cheapness, and ease and rapidity of manulacture; it retains its llanie a comparatively long time, is free from oily or'other objectionable residuum, and it will not explode.

The fuse composed of the xylonite base, coated with the novel friction-match compound hercin described, is water-proof; but, instead of this compound, an ordiuatitiauatch compound, such as is usually employedln connection with matches, might be, employed and make a very good t'use; so, too, the match compound above described may be applied to ordinary matches, making them water-proof.

ln ordinary match compounds the explosive ingredients, such as potash and phosphorus, are held together by means of glue or gumarabic-substances not water-proof. I have t'ound that shellac and other resinous gums may be used in place of the gum-arable or glue, and thereby make a water-proof compound. the shellac may be as usual.

The drawing shows the improved fuse in perspective. The letter (a designates the xylonite base, and l), the match compound.

I claim- A continuous l'use, composed of xylonite and a match composition applied thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribimg witnesses.

woman A. LEONARD.

Witnesses: v

G. W. (irREGORY, S. B. KIDDER.

The explosive ingredients uaeld with" 

